Stromboli itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days on Stromboli, day by day: a boat out to the Strombolicchio rock, the white village of San Vincenzo and Via Roma, the black sand of Ficogrande, the church of San Bartolomeo and the walk up to the viewpoint over the Sciara del Fuoco at dusk, then tiny, car-free Ginostra by boat and a sunset boat round the island to watch the eruptions from the sea as you add a day. The other islands are on the Aeolian Islands page. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Stromboli in 1 day
Day 1
Strombolicchio (by boat)
Sheer volcanic rock with a lighthouse on top, about 2 km off the north-east coast, seen up close from a boat.
Historic centre of Stromboli (Piazza San Vincenzo and Via Roma)
The white village round the church of San Vincenzo, its terrace looking to Strombolicchio, and Via Roma, the lane of cafés and shops.
Ficogrande black-sand beach
The village's main beach of black volcanic sand and pebbles, with Strombolicchio offshore; good for a swim between walks.
Church of San Bartolomeo
White church on the quieter northern side of the village, with views over the sea and towards the Strombolicchio rock.
Sciara del Fuoco viewpoint
Path above Piscità to a viewpoint over the Sciara del Fuoco, the slope where lava and glowing rocks roll down to the sea; best at dusk.
Stromboli in 2 days
Day 1
Ginostra village (by boat)
Tiny car-free village on the south-west side, reached only by sea, with mule paths, white houses and a handful of winter residents.
Historic centre of Stromboli (Piazza San Vincenzo and Via Roma)
The white village round the church of San Vincenzo, its terrace looking to Strombolicchio, and Via Roma, the lane of cafés and shops.
Sunset boat tour round the island from Stromboli harbour
Late-afternoon boat round the island, past Ginostra and Strombolicchio, waiting off the Sciara del Fuoco after dark to watch the eruptions glow.
Day 2
Strombolicchio (by boat)
Sheer volcanic rock with a lighthouse on top, about 2 km off the north-east coast, seen up close from a boat.
Ficogrande black-sand beach
The village's main beach of black volcanic sand and pebbles, with Strombolicchio offshore; good for a swim between walks.
Church of San Bartolomeo
White church on the quieter northern side of the village, with views over the sea and towards the Strombolicchio rock.
Sciara del Fuoco viewpoint
Path above Piscità to a viewpoint over the Sciara del Fuoco, the slope where lava and glowing rocks roll down to the sea; best at dusk.
When to go to Stromboli
May, June and September are the best months, warm enough for swimming with fewer people. July and August are hot and busy, with full hydrofoils and boats. The eruptions can be seen in any season, but from November to March many places close and boats run less often. Rossellini filmed Stromboli here with Ingrid Bergman, released in 1950, and the island still feels remote.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Stromboli on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Stromboli on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Stromboli on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
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Tips for Stromboli
- Without a guide you may walk up to 290 m; with an authorised guide to 400 m, and the summit craters have been closed since 2019. The rules change with the volcano's activity, so ask locally and book a guide ahead.
- The village lanes have no street lights: bring a torch for evenings and for the walk back from the Sciara viewpoint.
- There are no cars on the island, only small electric carts and three-wheelers; pack light, as the lanes are steep and narrow.
- Book the sunset boat round the island ahead in summer; it stops off the Sciara del Fuoco after dark, when the eruptions glow.
- Black sand gets very hot in summer: bring beach shoes for Ficogrande, and swim in the morning or late afternoon.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Church of San Bartolomeo: Davide Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ficogrande black-sand beach: Drtrotsky, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ginostra village (by boat): Benreis, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Historic centre of Stromboli (Piazza San Vincenzo and Via Roma): Bernard Gagnon, CC BY 4.0
- Sciara del Fuoco viewpoint: No machine-readable author provided. Tbc assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain
- Strombolicchio (by boat): Giovanni from Catania, Sicily, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Sunset boat tour round the island from Stromboli harbour: Norbert Nagel, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
